Are wheel spacers safe for the track?
08-31-2009, 03:56 PM
#16
Nordschleife Master
08-31-2009, 04:11 PM
#17
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I bought some Fikse FM10's for my RS America from Wheel Enhancement, and silly me, I relied on them to send the correct offsets. They came with incorrect offsets, and then they gave me the finger on solving the problem. Fikse played dumb while at the same time telling me they were screwed up. $3000 learning experience.
08-31-2009, 04:34 PM
#18
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08-31-2009, 05:00 PM
#19
Burning Brakes
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08-31-2009, 05:04 PM
#20
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How dangerous are the studs in the spacers, even if made by porsche? That entire 50lb tire/wheel holding 2000lbs of car, and 1000s of foot-lbs of torsional loads, is a bit worrysome when it all rides on a 1/2" thick disc of aluminum.
08-31-2009, 05:27 PM
#21
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Mark, once the lugs are torqued down on the studs, the spacer does not carry a torsional load. it is just sort os "squished" into the hub by the wheel.
Professional Racing and Driving Coach
Professional Racing and Driving Coach
08-31-2009, 05:34 PM
#22
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Depends on which you are talking about...the spacers where they slide over the car's studs, then the wheel, then the lugs torqued down, or the "adapters" where the (usually thicker) spacer is bolted to the car's studs with the lugs, then the wheel is bolted to studs that are embedded in the "adapter"? Porsche has used both from the factory in the past.
08-31-2009, 05:39 PM
#23
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Dave,
I was talking about the spacers with the studs in them. (porsche part ). they look like good quality, but the thought of the spacer, bolted to the hub with the stock studs and nuts, and then the wheel bolted to that spacer (studs cast in the spacer) is my question.
I agree, just a spacer and long studs is very safe, HOWEVER, hubcentric requirements might be looked at, as most porsches and wheels use the hub, not the studs for centering the wheel, as well as for increasing side loads on the studs that are not designed for the duty. I've done/do this, as the lugs help with centering but Ive heard that is a consideration as well.
I was talking about the spacers with the studs in them. (porsche part ). they look like good quality, but the thought of the spacer, bolted to the hub with the stock studs and nuts, and then the wheel bolted to that spacer (studs cast in the spacer) is my question.
I agree, just a spacer and long studs is very safe, HOWEVER, hubcentric requirements might be looked at, as most porsches and wheels use the hub, not the studs for centering the wheel, as well as for increasing side loads on the studs that are not designed for the duty. I've done/do this, as the lugs help with centering but Ive heard that is a consideration as well.
08-31-2009, 05:54 PM
#24
Rennlist Member
Dave,
I was talking about the spacers with the studs in them. (porsche part ). they look like good quality, but the thought of the spacer, bolted to the hub with the stock studs and nuts, and then the wheel bolted to that spacer (studs cast in the spacer) is my question.
I agree, just a spacer and long studs is very safe, HOWEVER, hubcentric requirements might be looked at, as most porsches and wheels use the hub, not the studs for centering the wheel, as well as for increasing side loads on the studs that are not designed for the duty. I've done/do this, as the lugs help with centering but Ive heard that is a consideration as well.
I was talking about the spacers with the studs in them. (porsche part ). they look like good quality, but the thought of the spacer, bolted to the hub with the stock studs and nuts, and then the wheel bolted to that spacer (studs cast in the spacer) is my question.
I agree, just a spacer and long studs is very safe, HOWEVER, hubcentric requirements might be looked at, as most porsches and wheels use the hub, not the studs for centering the wheel, as well as for increasing side loads on the studs that are not designed for the duty. I've done/do this, as the lugs help with centering but Ive heard that is a consideration as well.
Professional Racing and Driving Coach
08-31-2009, 08:40 PM
#26
Rennlist Member
So, have you heard about the safety of the spacers with built in studs. Just seems real dangerous, but Ive been racing with them for 8 full seasons and they are holding up...............until they dont.... 
mk
mk
08-31-2009, 09:31 PM
#27
Rennlist Member
No, I have not. Sorry.
Professional Racing and Driving Coach
08-31-2009, 09:33 PM
#28
The problem with adapters with the studs built in is you have 10 lug nuts holding the wheel on. More importantly, there is no way to check the torque of the inner lugs without removing the wheel. Kind of a real inconvenience to check torques inbetween sessions.
09-01-2009, 12:49 AM
#29
Rennlist Member
Good point. However, after a while they become just rusted on 
. I do check them occasionally, but they have never needed a extra torquing. If it wasnt such a HUGE pain to change the studs, I would have done it a long time ago. you basically need to do an entire wheel bearing replacement job in the rear assembly on a 928, and it is not fun.
. I do check them occasionally, but they have never needed a extra torquing. If it wasnt such a HUGE pain to change the studs, I would have done it a long time ago. you basically need to do an entire wheel bearing replacement job in the rear assembly on a 928, and it is not fun.
09-01-2009, 02:56 AM
#30
Three Wheelin'
I think you are talking about lug bolts and not studs. I think it is a late model car, right? I don't know whether Porsche ever shipped a spacer of this type on a later car...
Anyway, I wouldn't blindly accept BB feedback on studs when my car used bolts and was a later model car. I might hit up the PCA tech resources or perhaps a racing-oriented business with customers tracking late model cars. Back in the day I called KMR on these types of questions, if/when I didn't have local resources. I wonder if the folks at Racer's Edge would have an opinion. I think they may have appropriate experience. I have never met Karl in person, but he seems to have the right type of perspective for this type of question.
Anyway, I wouldn't blindly accept BB feedback on studs when my car used bolts and was a later model car. I might hit up the PCA tech resources or perhaps a racing-oriented business with customers tracking late model cars. Back in the day I called KMR on these types of questions, if/when I didn't have local resources. I wonder if the folks at Racer's Edge would have an opinion. I think they may have appropriate experience. I have never met Karl in person, but he seems to have the right type of perspective for this type of question.